Early Scandinavia, 18th Century Europe, and a Miniature Museum

An interpretation in miniature of the Carl Larsson painting, "Daddy's Room," circa 1895. The tall cabinet is signed "JJonis 81."

Miniature pewter tankards for Christmas punch. Pewter, an alloy of tin and lead, was readily available and affordable. Tankards had lids to keep insects and debris from falling into the beverage inside. The old English word “wassail” comes from the old norse “ves...

Nativity and candles. An interpretation of the Carl Larsson house in miniature, made by my mother and previously on display at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.

The grandmother doll is hallmarked "BT 1999," which is most likely Barbara Tate of Tate's Collectibles. The two dolls in pleated skirts are hallmarked "Imka," but I haven't identified the maker yet.  The rosemaled chair is by Cindy Malone. An interpretation of the...

Tiled stoves were invented in in the mid-eighteenth century in Sweden. My mother painted the white tiled stove herself. The green tiled stove is hallmarked "NF." The American Swedish Institute has marvelous examples of Swedish tiled stoves in the Turnblad Mansion. An...

A julbord is a Christmas feast. An interpretation of the Carl Larsson house in miniature, made by my mother and previously on display at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.

 The rosemaled chairs are signed by Cindy Malone. Rosemaling actually originated in Norway, but by this time the art form had spread to Sweden.  I did not originally know the provenance of the corner cabinet, but realized my mother had mounted the cabinet upside down....

Decorating the tree. Norwegian and Swedish flags are a nod to our family's dual heritage. My father descends from the seventeenth century Swedish knight Johan Palmström. There is a family legend that his son was banished to Norway due to a rumored affair with the...

Kitchen with tiled stove and Carl's wife Karin. The trestle table is signed "Cindy Malone." The trim motif in the window can be found in Carl's paintings, "Karin is Reading, 1904" and "Version of the Painting on the Dining-room Window, 1905." An interpretation of the...

Carl's children playing. An interpretation of the Carl Larsson house, made by my mother and previously on display at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.

My mother created this interpretation of the Carl Larsson house in 1:12 scale miniature twenty five years ago. The house has been on display in several museums and galleries, including the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. She has fine art and design degrees...